Elma Ougland on her 96th birthday with her daughters Betty Ann, Mary Jane and son Erik.
Elma is a Cajun from Vacherie, Louisiana who drove from New Orleans to San Pedro in 1939 to be with her husband Capt. Sigurd A. Ougland in the Merchant Marine. This was very daring for a 25 year old woman who was pregnant at the time and there were no interstate highway. Her husband had sailed from New Orleans to San Pedro on the Richfield oil tanker Larry Doheny.
He was from Norway and they met in Algiers which is across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. Sigurd's ship was in dry dock near the diner where Elma worked. They were married after a three week courtship. Sigurd died in 1967.
Elma has live in the Westside of Long Beach since 1948. Submitted by Erik T. Ougland
Long Beach


The worst gift is a fruitcake.There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.One of my favorite birthday quote.
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.